Electrical dehydrator for petroleum emulsions



vH. C. EDDY ELECTRICAL DEHYDRATOR FOR PETROLEUM EMULSIONS June 3o, 1925. 1,544,528

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June 3o, 192s. l 1,544,528

H. C. EDDY ELECTRICAL DEHYDRATOR FO PETROLEUM EMULSIONS Filed Oct. 19', 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 30, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENroFrlcs.

HAROLD C. EDDY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIAy ASSIGNOR ITO PETROLEUM RECTI- FYING COMPANY OF. CALIFORNIA, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORA- TION OF CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRICAL DEHYDRATOR FOR PETROLEUM EMULSIONS. Application filed- October 19, 1923. Serial No. 669,593.

To all 'whom it may 00m-cfm: applied to petroleum oils, it is also equally Be it known that I, HAROLD C. EDDY, a applicable to other mineral and vegetable 55 citizen of the United States, residing at oils. Los Angeles, in the county. of Los Angeles, In petroleum, and other emulsions, in State of California, have inventeda new additionto the water there is often present and useful Electrical Dehydrator for Petroother foreign matter such as fine silt or cla-y lcum Emulsions, of which the following is particles. By my invention most of these a specification. I particles may be drawn into suspension with The invention relates to the art ofsepathe water and removed therewith. 1'0 rating water and oil from petroleum emuly The agglomerated water, formed by the sions. coalescence of the small water particles,. In the production and transportation of moves downwardly in the electric ield due 05 crude petroleum, and its products, water to gravity. Since, in the present invention, often becomes mixed with the oil. Ordione electrodeis above the other, this settling 15 narily the oil is of considerably lower speofthe water tends to concentrate the water ciic gravity than the water, and the water, in the lowerv portion of the electric field or unless present in a very finely divided conjust above the lower electrode. To prevent dition, readily settles out of the oil if the water concentration inthe electric field allowed to stand quiescent'in 'suitable tanks. from-becoming toov great, it is an object of '20 Emulsion which contains` coarse or free the invention to so shape and slope the lower water particles may, therefore, be lreadily electrode that the agglomerated water tends separated into its constituent elements by -`to run off, which can readily be accomplished merely allo-wing it to stand in a tank for a by making this electrode conoidal. sufficient time to. allow the water to settle to It has been found that,in treating certain 25 the bottom of the tank and the oil to rise to emulsions, persistent short-circuiting water the top. f 'l chains orr paths tend to form between the Emulsions are, however, sometimes proelectrodes, these chains greatly interfering 80 duced in which the constituents `are so finelyv with the successful voperation of the appadivided and intimately mixed that ordinary ratus, and it is an object of the invention to '30 gravitational separation `is not commerprevent the persistence of such chains or i cially feasible. In such emulsions the water plaithsfby `slowly moving the emulsions beis usually suspended in the oil in the form tween the electrodes which can convenientlyv of minute droplets vor particles and these be accomplished by a periodic and continual particles show very little tendency to settle movement ofthe upper electrode.

downwardly through the oil. i l I havefound also that by. properly shap- It has been found, however, when a ing the. upper electrode, I can provi e a suilicient electromotive vforce is applied to pocket in hich dehydrated oil'collects, this a body of emulsion having these'ine water oil having been dehydrated in the electric particles therein 'that these' vparticles are field and caught and retained in the pocket drawn together by `electrostatic attraction due to its lower specific gravity and tendand coalesce into largerdrops which areof ency to rise. through the heavier emulsion. suicient size to readily settle under the in- This oil, by forming a layer of high dielec- 95 iuence of gravity. The herein' described tric'strength, also resists puncture by the invention operates upon this principle and electric current and helps prevent the for- 45 readily separates a petroleum emulsion into mation of persistent shortv-circuiting chains.. free water and clean] oil. vWhile it is probvInasmuch as oil vapors, when mixed with able that the amount of water in the cleaned air form an vexplosive ymixture which is 100 oil leaving the apparatus may be reduced readily ignited by a disruptive electric disto any' desired proportion, it is usually comcharge or spark, it is an yobjectof the invenmercially satisfactory to reduce the water tion to provide a dehydrator fro-m which content below two per cent (2%) ofthe air is excluded -when the apparatus is in total o-il cleaned. operatiomthus, preventing explosions and 105 While I have described my invention as tires. For the same reasons, it is an object of the invention lto provide means for dis connecting the electric power from the de hydrator in the event that the liquid level therein falls to such a degree as to admit air into the top thereof.

As an additional precaution, it is an object of the invention to so arrange the piping of the dehydrator as to prevent the accidental drainage thereof.

lt often happens in the practical operation of electrical dehydrators that free water tis delivered directly into the dehydrator. This water is an electric conductor and would, if allowed to flow into the electric field, entirely short-circuit the field and interrupt further treatment. It is a further object of my invention to provide means by which any free water which may enter the apparatus is diverted from the electric Held.

Further objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only, l

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a dehydrator embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a View, on a somewhat larger scale than F i f.1, of the lower surface of the upper electro e.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on a plane represented by the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, on a somewhat larger scale than Fig. 1.`

Fig. 5 is a section on a plane represented by the line 5*5 of Fig. 1, on a somewhat larger scale than Fig. 1. y

Fig. 6 is a diagram of the electrical connections.

Fig. 7 is a portion of an'ernulsion as seen under a microscope.

In the form of the invention illustrated in these drawings, 11 is a tank having a conical top 12 and a bottom 13. Suspended on brackets 14, fixed to the side of the tank 11, is a lower electrode 15. This electrode has a vertical inlet tube 16 open at the bottom which is joined at its top with a frusto--conical sheet metal member, forming the electrode 15. The tube 16 extends below the operating water plane of the dehydrator whichymay be maintained at about the line \V-VV, the height of the water being observed in a. gauge glass 17. v water inlet pipe 18 extends up intothe tube 16, this water inlet pipe being extended up outside the dehydrator to form a loop 19 whose high point is on a line L-L slightly above the apeX of the top 12. Since free water .is heavier thanthe emulsion any water passing into the tank 11 through the pipe 18 tends to immediately sink through the pipe 16 into the body of water in the bottom of the tank. 11. This prevents this water from passing into the electric field and short-circuiting it. The high point of the loop 19 is vented to the 51 secured on open air (to prevent siphoning) through a pipe 20 which extends well a bore the oil out let pipe of the tank.

A water outlet pipe 2l is provided with a water outlet valve 22 and a loop 23 exlending up to the line L-L and vented through a. pipe 24 to the outer air. charges water and any suspended or dissolved solids into a drain 25.

Suspended over the lower electrode l5 is an upper electrode 26 which is also formed of sheet metal fabricated .to forni a cone. On the lower surface of the upper electrode 26 is a series of dependent concentric skirts 27 formed of sheet metal. trode is suspended from a rod 28, the upper end of which is att-ached to the lower end of a series of suspension insnlatms 29. lillectric current'is conducted into the interior of the dehydrator through the top 12 through a. hollow insulating bushing and delivered to the rod 28 and the upper electrode 26 by means of a flexible conductor 31. l

The upper end of the suspension insulators 29 is attached to a rod 32 which passes upwardly through a central pipe 33 and is attached to a lever arm 34 secured to a shaft: 35, as shown in plan in Fig. 4. The shaft 35 is journaled in plugs 36 carried in a tee 37 screwed on a nipple 38 which projects from the pipe 33. One end of the shaft 35 has a. lever 39 secured thereon, this lever extending outwardly, the outer end thereof having a connection rod 40 pivoted-thereto. The connection rod 40 extends down and is pivoted to a crank 41, driven by a motor 42, through suitable speed reducing gearing carried in a case 43. The speed of the motor 42 and the gearing 43 should be so selected as to turn the crank 41 something less than thirty revolutions per minute. The top of the pipe 33 is closed by a cap 44. An oil outlet pipe 45 is connected into the pipe 33, preferably below the nipple 38, and oil and gas are thereby withdrawn from the eX- treme top of the apparatus.

Connected to the upper part of the apparatus through a nipple 46 is a float chamber 47, in which a float 48 is suspended by means of a. rod'49. The rod 49 passes upwardly through a pipe 50 and is pivoted to a lever a shaft 52, as shown in plan view in Fig. 5. The shaft 52 turns freely in plugs 53 threaded in a tee 54, which is secured to a tee 55, forn'iing a portion of the pipe 50. A lever 56 is secured to an outer end of the shaft 52, this lever opening a switch 57 through a rod 58, when the float 48 falls.

The method of electric-ally connecting tht` apparatus is shown in Fig. 6. in which 59 is an alternating current transformer having a primary windingr 60 and a secondary winding 6l. The primary winding 60 is connected through wires 62 with any conven- The upper elec- "a The loop 23 disj ient source of power at any commercial volti erated by a coil 70 s trical circuit to the transformer 66.

I to the tank through emulsion pulls together the age. The ratio of the transformer 59 is such that an electric current at 110 volts is supplied to the terminals of a manually operated switch or' auto-matic circuit breaker 63. The current then flows through an electrically operated switch 64 to the primary 65 o-f a second transformer 66. The ratio of the second transformer 66 is Such that a high' electrical potential, 11, 000 volts for example, is generated in a secondary 67 thereof. One terminal of the secondary 67 is grounded as shown at 68, or it may be connected to the tank 11. The other terminal` 69 of the secondary 67 is connected to a conductor passing downwardly through the insulator 30 and thus through the exible conductor 31, and the rod 28, impressing a potential between the electrodes 15 and 26. Y

The electrically operated switch64 is opwhich is energized from the secondary.61 of the transformer` 59 through the switch 57. Whenever this switch is opened by the lowering of the float 48 in the float chamber 47, the electrical circuit to the coil 70 is opened and the switch 64l opens by gravity, thus opening the elec- When no. current flows in the transformer 66 and there is no electrical potential between the electrodes 15 and 26.

The method of operation is as follows:

y The tanklllbeing empty, the float 48 is in its lowest position and th-e switch 57 is open sothat there is no electrical potential in the tank 11. Emulsion is then delivered the pipe 18. The valve this occurs,

22 is closed.

As soon as the oil entirelyfills the tank 11, the float 48 rises and closes the switch 57, thus closing the switch 64 and impressing an electrical potential between the electrodes 15 and 26. This potential acts on the emulsion, as shown in Fig. 7. At this time a valve 72 in the pipe 18 may be closed, thus shutting off the flow of emulsion into the treater. It will be seen that the water particles 71 are of various sizes andare irregularly disposed in the field. Due to the electrlc field, the particles tend to arrange themselves in chains, which extend between the electrodes, and tend to form a multiplicity of conducting paths. For example, a chain may be formed alongthe line A-A of Fig. 7 To prevent the persistence of these chains, `it may be necessary to agitate the accomplished bystartincQ the motor 42. This turns the crank 41 irough the speed reducing gears in the case 43, and oscillates the lever 39 through the connecting rod 40. The movement of the lever 39 raisesv and lowers the upper electrode 26.

The action of the electric field on the fine particles of silt and other foreign fall'below 4the line L-L', however,

y ycurrent from the tank by emulsion which is readily water 71 to form large masses which settle out of the space between the electrodes 15 a-nd 26. This water falls on the sloping surface of the lower electrode and runs down into the bottom of the tank 11. At the same time the cleaned oil, being lighter than the emulsion, collects in the pocket formed by of the tank. Emulsion then flows into the the'upper electrode 26 and, overflowing over the edges of this electrode, rises to the top space between the electrodcsto replace. the

the electrical resistance thereof inallowedv to flow continuously into thetankhy 11, thus displacing flows from the extreme top of the tank througlrthe' pipe 45' into suitable storage tanks, not shown'.

. As soon as enough water accumulates in the bottom of the `tank to be visible in the gauge glass 17, the valve 22 may be opened and lwater allowed to flow into the drain 25. This wat-er 'takes with it the precipitated sion flo-ws into the tank at a uniform rrate and if the amount of water carried by the emulsion is uniform which is usually the case, the precipitation of water into the bottom of the tank is also uniform and the valve 22 can be set by trial to maintain the Water at about the level W-W.

W'hen applied to the treatment `of many emulsions, it is possible to discontinue agitation as soon as the tank full of oil is once dehydrated, and the motor 42 may then be disconnected from its source of power.

It will be seen that since the loops 23 and 79 extend up tothe level L.L, even if both valves 22 and 72 are wide open, the tank cannot be drained through either the pipe 21` or the pipe 18, flow through either pipe ceasing asu soon as to the line L-L. 4

Should the liquid level ever accidentally due, for or pipe connection, cut of the electric opening the switch 57, and thus prevent an explosion due to ignition of the gas pocket so vformed in the top `of the tank.

The arrangement of the'loops 23 and 79 also provides means for keeping the tank full of cleaned oil at all times and thus making it unnecessary to go through any preliminary cleaning when starting up again. i

example, toa leaky tank the float 48 will promptly the dehydrated oil which the level of the oil falls matter. lf the emulp l claim as my invention:

l.. A dehydrator for electrically 'separatingr water and oil from an emulsilied miX- ture of said water and oil comprising: a cylindrical tank; an upper electrode in said tank; a lower electrode in said tank, said .lower electrode being conical in shape, sloping downwardly from the center thereof; an

emulsion inlet pipe'so placed as to deliver emulsion to the space between said elect rodes near the center thereof, a water outlet pipe so placed as to draw water from the bottom of said tank; an oil outlet pipe so placed as to draw oil from the top ot' said tank; and means Jfor impressing a sutlicient electromotivc force between said electrodes 'to cause a coalescence of water particles in the space between said electrodes.

2. A dehydrator as in claim l characterized by the fact that means are provided for periodically varying the distance between said electrodes.

A dehydrator as in claim l characterized by the fact that the lower electrode is electrically connected tosaid tank and the emulsion inlet pipe passes centrally upward, delivering emulsion through an opening in said lower electrode.

4. A dehydrator as in claim l characterized by the fact that the oil outlet pipe takes oil and gas from the extreme top of said tank and means are provided for interrupting the electric circuit in the event that the liquid in said tank falls to such a degree as to leave a gas space over said liquid in said tank.

5. A dehydrato-r as in claim 1 characterized by the fact that the water outlet and emulsion inlet pipes are. so arranged that fluid will no-t flow outwardly from the tank therethrough if the liquid in said tank falls to such a degree as to leave a gas space above said liquid in said tank.

6. In a dehydrator, the combination of: a shell; a pair of horizontal electrodes in said shell; means for delivering emulsion into said shell in such a manner as to enter between said electrodes; means for drawing water from said shell; means fondrawing treated oil from said shell; means for i1npressin an electric potential between said electro( es.; and means for reciprocating,r one et' said electrodes relative to the other so as to provide a continuous movement of the oil being treated.

7. in a dehydrator, the combination of: a shell; a pair of horizontal electrodes in Said shell; means for deliveringemulsion into said shell in such a manner as toenter between said electrodes; means for drawing water from said shell; means for drawing treated oil from said shell; means for impressing an electric potential between said electrodes; and means for providing a relative reciprocation ot' said electrodes so as to provide a continuous movement of the oil being: treated.

8. A dehydrator as defined in claim 7, in which the lower of said electrodes is of conical form with the upper surfaces sloping downwardly from a central point.

9. A'dehydrator as defined in claim 7, in which the lower of said electrodes is of conical form with the upper surfaces sloping downwardly from a central point, and the upper of said electrodes is in form of a cone inverted over said lower electrode.

l0. A dehydrator as defined in claim 7, in which the upper of said electrodes has pockets formed on the under side thereof for retaining dielectric oil.

In testimony whereoI, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 8th day of October, 1923.

HAROLD o. EDDY.A 

